One-Night Stay with Wine at Christmas Farm Inn and Spa in Jackson, NH

Christmas Farm Inn and Spa

Quaint New England Charm near Skiing in White Mountains

Christmas Farm Inn and Spa has all the trappings of a storybook winter hideaway. Its main house was built in 1786 on a 15-acre tract of land near ski resorts in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. With its wide-plank floors, patchwork quilts, and a crackling wood-burning fireplace inside, the building is a picture of early colonial New England charm.

Each of the B & B's 18 guest rooms in the main inn and saltbox has a Yule-themed moniker, such as Sleigh Bells, Blitzen, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The latter features cherry furniture, plaid curtains, and an ottoman crafted from leftover holiday fruitcakes. The carriage house rests on the hillside just above the main house and boasts a great room with a stone fireplace. Many of the rooms have romantic touches to them, too, such as fireplaces, complimentary wine, and two-person whirlpool tubs.

The onsite Aveda Concept spa features steam and massage rooms, a relaxation lounge, and seven treatment rooms. Unwind in the indoor pool and jacuzzi, or retire to the porch, where white rocking chairs face the picturesque mountains of the Presidential Range.

For dinner, chef Stan Shafer—recently named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation—cooks up New England classics, including clam chowder as well as more innovative dishes, such as maple-pecan salmon. Next door, bartenders at the Mistletoe Pub serve up frothy brews in a convivial atmosphere.

Jackson, New Hampshire: Cross-Country and Downhill Skiing amid the Mountains in New England

The sleepy town of Jackson is surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest on all sides. When the meadows, lakes, and mountain peaks here are covered in snow, Jackson is a popular spot for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding, and snowmobiling. Black Mountain Ski Resort is located just about a mile from Christmas Farm Inn and Spa, and Wildcat Mountain, one of the most popular alpine ski sites in the area, is located about 12 miles north.

Nearby, sweeping mountain vistas and colonial architecture unfold along the 100-mile White Mountains Trail National Scenic Byway. A segment of the loop winds near Jackson, passing white-steeple churches, country cottages, and covered bridges. Miles of groomed hiking trails lead off from the byway in every direction, attracting cross-country skiers after fresh snowfalls.